BUSINESS

Check out these spots for hot drinks and good eats

Natalie Morris
Natalie Morris

The buzz in the local dining scene this week is new places, and times, to get that caffeinated kick.

The Jacksonville-based ELM CITY ROASTERY opened a coffee station in the Illinois Capitol Building Wednesday, once again restoring access to a daily grind and pastries in the hallowed legislative halls.

THE WAKERY follows on its heels, providing locally roasted coffee drinks and non-alcoholic beverages at 5 W. Old State Capitol Plaza for night owls in the downtown district.

And the Joe-on-the-go crowd will have a new west-side drive-through April 7 with the second SCOOTER’S COFFEE to open in the Springfield market in 16 weeks.

"It’s more about access to local businesses to get a really good cup of coffee,” The Wakery owner Elizabeth Wake said of the growing number of java joints. “It’s more, ‘I want to support local and I want to drink coffee.’”

Elm City Roastery opened Wednesday in the second-floor south wing of the capitol building after being named the top bid for the job.

Owner Ben Smith took over the original coffeehouse on the southern block of the Jacksonville square in January 2022. Elm City’s beverage focus is coffee and tea selections with single origin coffees, lattes and loose leaf teas. The business also carries bakery items from the Springfield-based THREE TWIGS BAKERY & COMPANY.

The Wakery’s move to a brick-and-mortar location – formerly home to LONG 9 JUNCTION – comes after a successful summer stint selling its virgin concoctions at the OLD CAPITOL FARMERS MARKET.

The late-night coffeehouse and alcohol-free bar offers an alternative to traditional evening hotspots with its beverage menu with seasonal drinks like Amaretto sour and espresso martini, as well as non-alcoholic beers and wines.

Just don’t refer to them as a mocktail.

“Mocktails you think (of) more juice blends, Shirley Temples, drinks made for kids,” Wake said. “A non-alcoholic cocktail has (an) adult taste with complexity of flavors, just made without the alcoholic spirits.”

The Wakery – the first recipient of the Isringhausen DRIVE Grant to assist newly established businesses open their doors in downtown Springfield – highlights a synergy of the downtown itself.

Wake has partnered with fellow downtown businesses CUSTOM CUP COFFEE and WHIMSEY TEA COMPANY for coffee and tea products, while baked goods have been sourced from INCREDIBLY DELICIOUS and GOLDEN HOUR BAKE HOUSE.

Operating hours are 4 to 11 p.m. Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday and 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Phone: 217-670-2354.

Scooter’s Coffee is the sole chain operation in this week’s list of new brews.

The Nebraska-based brand opens its second location at 1740 Wabash Ave. April 7 after introducing its signature Caramelicious drink and smiley stickers on each cup to the Springfield market in December with a store at 2935 Clear Lake Ave.

The Springfield franchise is owned by Marcus and Lauryn McGlasson of Pleasant Plains. The husband-wife team introduced the Scooter’s Coffee name to the central Illinois market with the opening of a store in Taylorville in 2021.

The extensive menu of coffee flavors are available hot, iced or blended. Fruit smoothies and hot and cold teas round out the beverage menu. Food selections include breakfast sandwiches, scratch-made pastries and oatmeal.

Hours for both Springfield locations are 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Scooter’s Coffee is celebrating its new Springfield store with a buy one-get one free offer on any drink for orders placed by and paid for on the Scooter’s Coffee mobile app. The app can be downloaded from the AppStore or Google Play.

Bob Evans location closed

Springfield’s original BOB EVANS has been shuttered all week and the restaurant’s parent company remains mum on whether a reopening is expected.

Health issues are not behind the unexpected closing of the Bob Evans at 3050 Adlai Stevenson Dr., according to the officials with the Sangamon County Department of Public Health.

A second Bob Evans at 4221 Conestoga Drive in Prairie Crossing remains in operation. Staff there said they were not permitted to discuss the sister business.

Calls to the Columbus, Ohio-based chain’s corporate office were not returned.

The family-style chain known for its sausage and bright red roadside restaurants entered the Springfield market with the opening of the Stevenson Drive location on the city’s east side in 1993. The west side address followed in the spring of 2000.

Going to the dogs

PORTILLO’S is taking its original home on the road this spring to celebrate six decades of serving up Chicago-style street food.

THE DOG HOUSE stand won’t make it south of Interstate 80 during its 10-stop, three-month long tour. But that doesn’t mean Springfield fans have to miss out on all of the festivities.

Beginning April 5 – Portillo’s official anniversary – patrons can sign up at any Portillo’s location for a chance to win Portillo’s for a year.

Founder Dick Portillo started the business in 1963 investing $1,100 into a small trailer to open the first Portillo’s hot dog stand in Villa Park. The food stand was called The Dog House. Today, Portillo’s signature Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches and chocolate cake are served at more than 70 restaurants throughout nine states.

 The Oak Brook-based chain opened in Parkway Point in December 2020 after several years of teasing plans to enter the Springfield market.

Portillo’s also recently unveiled its meat-free hot dog. The new Garden Dog is made with 100-percent plant-based protein crafted for Portillo’s by the Seattle-based FIELD ROAST.

The Garden Dog comes with mustard, relish, celery, salt, freshly chopped onions, sliced tomatoes, kosher pickle and sport peppers on a steamed poppy seed bun. The meat-free entree joined Portillo’s line up March 24.

The A La Carte column highlights restaurant openings, closing, renovations and relocations, as well as personnel changes and business news. Natalie Morris can be reached at 737-7254 or by email at natalie.sjr@gmail.com.